Apparatus for mechanically icing refrigerator cars and the like



Va'qyMW/iams 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 TUS FOR MECHANICALL-Y ICING REFRIGERATORCARS AND THE LIKE V. B. WILLIAMS, SR APPARA Dec. 30, 1952 Flled Dec 11947 Dec. 30, 1952 v w s, R 2,623,363

APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY ICING REFRIGERATOR CARS AND THE LIKE FiledD90. 1, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 30, 1952 v. B. WlLLlAMS, SR 2,523,363

APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY ICING REFRIGERATOR CARS AND THE LIKE 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1, 1947 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 APPARATUS FORMECHANIOALLY ICING REFRIGERATOR CARS AND THE LIKE Vaughan B. Williams,Sin, Dallas, Tex assignor of forty-nine per cent to Charles F. Miller,Jr.,

Falls Church, Va.

Application December 1, 1947, Serial No. 789,045

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for mechanicallyicing refrigerator cars and the like and aims generally to improveexisting apparatus for that purpose.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a mechanical icebunkering apparatus that will effectively and eificiently handle icefrom its delivery to the icing platform toits discharge into the carbunkers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedapparatus for breaking the large 300 lb. cakes of ice into smaller, moreeasily handled and efiicient icing pieces and selectively deliveringsaid crushed ice to opposite sides of an endless carrier from which itmay be discharged from selectedlocations along the length thereof intochutes leading to the car bunkers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedapparatus which substantially meohanizes the car-icing operations bycordinating and integrating the operations of mechanically breaking,lateral and longitudinal distribution and selective discharge.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent to personsskilled in the art to which the invention relates from a considerationof the accompanying drawings and annexed specification illustrating anddescribing one preferred embodiment of ice-bunkering systems.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view illustrating a preferred apparatus suitablefor car-icing a plurality of railway refrigerator cars according to theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ice-breaking mechanism and a portionof the icing platform and distributing conveyor;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus adjacent theice-breaking mechanism and illustrating one of the loader chutes inrelation to the distributing conveyor;

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view as taken on the line 44 ofFig. 1

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the ice-breaker; and

Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation,illustrating the return mechanism of the distributing conveyor and thetransverse transfer conveyor.

According to the invention, cake ice, preferably in 300 lb. blocks, isdelivered from a suitable storage room by a suitable conveyor (notshown) to an ice-receiving conveyor which moves it to and through anice-breaking mechanism where the cakes of ice are broken into smallerpieces and selectively discharged onto laterally spaced, substantiallyhorizontally disposed distributor surfaces moving in oppositedirections. The distributor surfaces move the broken ice dischargedthereon in an endless circuitous path between opposed rows oftransversely aligned bunker hatch openings into which ice from thedistributor surfaces is selectively discharged by suitable bunkerloading means. Ice which is not diverted from the distributor surfacesWill continue to be moved in an endless circuitous path and hence willbe continuously available for use at any desired point or for recoveryand subsequent use if desired.

A preferred apparatus for practicing the invention comprises an icingplatform 5 of desired length and supported in elevated position to beslightly above the plane of the tops of railway refrigerator cars 8positioned on tracks 9 on opposite sides of the platform. The platform 5may be about 14 to 18 feet in width as is usual in existing car-icingplatforms, which is suflicient to provide a support for a centrallydisposed distributing conveyor framework and walks 5 on opposite sidesthereof extending substantially the length of the platform.

Ice-receiving, ice-breaking and ice-distributing means are supportedupon the platform, preferably centrally thereof, and conveniently aremounted upon a suitable framework I4 comprising uprights [5 arranged inpairs at spaced intervals longitudinally of the platform. Transversesupports l6 may bridge the pairs of uprights to provide a supportingstructure for a distributing conveyor 19, which preferably is of anendless fiat belt type having opposed fiat longitudinal runs moving inopposite directions as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

Certain uprights or stanchions l5 for one of the runs are of greaterlength than the others to provide supports for an elevated ice-receiverfor receiving the initial 300 lb. cakes of ice and delivering them to anice-breaker. Preferably the ice-receiver is disposed above one of theruns of the distributing conveyor l9. This ice-receiver conveniently maycomprise an endless belt conveyor l0 trained over rolls II supported onthe uprights [5, which rolls are driven by suitable motor drive l2. Theice-receiving conveyor I0 is of sufficient length to support a pluralityof cakes of ice and feed them rapidly and. sequentially to anice-breaker 30 conveniently located above the distributing conveyor,preferably centrally of the platform. Guide members 13 extend upwardlyat each side of the conveyor 10 to retain on guides 33 and actuated bymeans of a motor driven crank and pitman mechanism 34.

Pointed teeth 35 extend downwardly from the head 32 and are carried by abar 36 hinged to the I head at 31 and yieldingly held in a verticalposition by springs 38. As the head 32 reciprocates, the teeth 35intermittently strike the cakes of ice fed thereunder by the conveyorID, thus breaking the cakes of ice into smaller pieces of a sizedependent upon the rate of reciprocation of the head and the rate ofmovement of the conveyor 10. The pivotal mounting of the teeth 35permits them to follow the forward movement of the ice as it is moved bythe conveyor [-8, and as the breaker bar is returned to the top of itsstroke the hinged bar and teeth "are drawn back into vertical positionby the action of springs 38.

After contact with the breaker teeth the broken ice falls or is pushedinto a short stationary inclined chute 2 located above the main conveyorbelt and which conveys the ice continuously into either of two movablechutes 2 and 2 which in turn feed or discharge it onto the main conveyorbelt [9. other of the chutes 2 and 2 by a selector gate -2 pivotallymounted at 2 and swingable :into alternate positions to selectivelyblock one chute while simultaneously directing the ice into the otherchute. ice to be selectively discharged onto either run of thedistributor conveyor [9. Both of the chutes 2 and 2 are desirably hingedorpivcted at their upper ends and spring-loaded just sufficiently tokeep them clear of the main loader .con-

veyor belt system.

The oppositely disposed runs of the conveyor belt l9 extendlongitudinally of the platform 5 and are supported on the transversesupports I8 and longitudinal supports 40 of the framework [4- in anysuitable manner. Longitudinally extending guide rails 4| are mounted onthe framework l4 along the inner edges of the conveyor runs and areoined at the ends by transversely extending guide rails 52.. On theoutside-or track side of the conveyor runs a metal guide groove 43approximately two inches in depth and one inch wide is attached, runningparallel to the edges of the runs. This groove is for the operation ofthe loader described hereinafter.

The conveyor belt propulsion is by a standard continuous drag chainoperationwith drag-chain dogs contacting cor-responding downwardprojections on the under side of theconveyor belt, or by a general typeof belt conveyor operating over a roller track and propelled by anystandard type of mechanism commonly used to move such loaded conveyorbelts.

At each end of the framework 14, the'conveyor belt l9 passes through aflat return mechanism indicated generally by the numeral :6 and returnsupon the framework I4 on the other side of'the main platform. A transferconveyor-belt 45 .receives ice at the point where the main conveyor beltit enters the-flat returnmechanism. Curved The ice is selectively fedinto one or the This enables the broken pieces of 1 upright metaldeflectors 46 positioned adjacent the ends of the conveyor [9 andextending along the outer side edges of the transfer conveyor 45 preventice from being propelled beyond this point in line of travel of the mainconveyor belt. The transfer conveyors 45 may be operated by independentmotors 45a through gearing 4'! or by gearing to the rollers at eitherend of the main conveyors. The transfer conveyors carry the ice acrossthe ends of the system from one run of the conveyor I9 to the other runthereof on the opposite icing-side of'the main platform.

The flat return mechanism 6 at each end of the conveyor belt consists of(a) two rollers 48, fixed in horizontal positions at right angles to theline travelled by the main conveyor belt, and slightly lower than theconveyor belt itself; (b) two guide spindles 49 emplaced either directlyupon the main platform or on a base built thereon, each having flanges5| at the ends thereof large enough to accommodate the belt, andpositioned by appropriate rigid supports or brackets 52 so as to leanoutward at an angle of approximately 60 degrees from the vertical, thelower end of the spindle being fixed approximately in the line of themiddle of the main platform, and '(c) a main spindle 53' placed invertical position approximately 4 feet beyond the guide spindlesdirectly in the line of the middleof the main platform.

The main conveyor belt is at each end thereof passes over one of thehorizontal rollers '48, down and around the lower side of one of theguide spindles 43, thence upward and around the outside of the mainspindle 53, thencedown and around the lower side of the other guidespindle 49 and thence over the other horizontal roller 48 onto thesupporting framework '14 on the other side of the platform. Thus theconveyor belt 13, with the same side exposed, makes a full circuittraversing both sides of the icing platform, in either direction at thewill of the operator :and at variable speed.

Ice is selectively diverted and discharged from the conveyor 19 intoselected bunker hatch openings by a loader 54 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 andcompr'is'ing'a light metal trough or chute '55 having a width ofapproximately '30 inches at the mouth, a depth-of from 6 inches to 8inches, and tapering to an overall length from '9 to 14 feet, dependingupon the proximity of the track to the ed'geof the platform. The mouthof the loading chute is held in place close to the conveyor belt by anangle iron, a rolled edge arrangement or any similardevice adapted toslide in'theguide groove '43, above described, which parallels the edgeof the conveyor belt. A diversion or feeder arm '56 is arranged for'botha vertical lift and to be closed horizontally against the loader mouthor opening as may bedesired .by the operator.

The loading chute 55 has a bottom opening or door 51 approximately .26inches wide by 30 inches long and located to correspond to the averagedistance between the guide groove and bunker opening nearest the edge ofthe platform, or, more specifically, to be over such bunker opening (seeFig. 3). Ordinarily the near side of this opening is arranged with abottom hinged door so that it may be closed by a pull-bar 58 as shownwhen the desired quantity of ice has been gravitated into the firstbunker opening, thereby enabling the ice to traverse the lowerSBQtiOII'Of the chute and .into the opening .of the far bunker. When ice.is feeding .into either bunker thelower eend of the chute rests uponthe edge of the bunker opening farthest away from the platform.

The loader is also equipped with a wheel and lift arrangement 69 whichenables the operator to raise the lower end of the chute above thebunker lids while sliding the loader along the guide groove d3 from onecar to another. This lift is optional insofar as operation is concerned.The leader may be counter-balanced if necessary in order to equalize theweight of the loader to maintain its position in the guide groove. Thisloader will be made from light-weight material, ordinarily 20 gaugegalvanized steel or aluminum having rolled edges for stability, with allopenings reinforced by 1" strap iron appropriately bradded and alsoreinforced at any points necessary to insure rigidity.

While the operation of the improved car icing apparatus of the inventionshould be readily apparent from the above description, a brief summaryof such operation will now be given. Cakes of ice from any suitablesource are fed onto the conveyor iii and moved thereon to the icebreaker 3B. The ice breaker cracks or breaks the cakes of ice intosmaller pieces which fall or are pushed by the following cakes of iceinto a short stationary inclined chute 2 From this chute the pieces ofice are selectively directed by the pivoted gate 2 into one or the otherof the inclined chutes 2 and Z from which they are discharged onto theconveyor belt is. This conveyor belt together with the transferconveyors i5 moves the pieces of ice in a circuitous closed pathadjacent the oppositely disposed rows of hatch openings, thuscontinuously distributing the ice to i;

any desired point of use. Loaders 54 selectively divert the ice from theruns of the conveyor ii! at any desired point or points along the pathof movement thereof and discharge it into selected ice bunkers. Icewhich is not diverted from the conveyor runs continues to move in aclosed circuitous path and so is continuously available for use at anydesired point or for recovery and reuse.

It will thus be apparent that the present invention provides an improvedapparatus for quickly, economically and efiiciently icing refrigeratorcars. While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, I do not intend to be limited thereby as the scope of theinvention is best defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for icing the bunkers of a plurality of refrigerator carswhich present longitudinal rows of transversely aligned hatch openings,comprising a platform laterally adjacent one longitudinal row of hatchopenings, an endless belt type ice distributing conveyor mounted uponsaid platform and having laterally spaced substantially horizontallydisposed runs movable longitudinally of the platform in oppositedirections, means for directing ice into said runs selectively, andbunker loading means connected to said platform movable longitudinallyalong said runs and providing lateral outlets for ice therefrom.

2. Apparatus for icing the bunkers of refrigerator cars as defined inclaim 1 in which said conveyor is provided with end supporting meansadapted to support the end portions thereof in substantially verticalpositions.

3. Apparatus for icing the bunkers of refrigerator cars as defined inclaim 1 including supporting rollers adapted to support the ends of saidconveyor in substantially vertical positions, and means adjacent saidrollers for twisting said runs to facilitate movement thereof onto andfrom said rollers.

4. Apparatus for icing the bunkers of refrigerator cars as defined inclaim 1 in which said bunker loading means comprises a plurality of iceloaders disposed laterally with respect to a run of said conveyor, meansfor adjustably supporting said loaders at selected positions alon saidconveyor run, and means for selectively distributing ice from saidconveyor run to a selected loader.

5. Apparatus for icing the bunkers of refrigorator cars as defined inclaim 1 including transverse transfer conveyors mounted between thelongitudinally movable runs of the endless belt type conveyor adjacentopposite ends thereof for transferring the ice from one run to theother.

6. Apparatus for icing the bunkers of a plurality of refrigerator carswhich present longitudinal rows of transversely aligned hatch openings,comprising a platform laterally adjacent one longitudinal row of hatchopenings, an ice breaker disposed above said platform, means fordelivering cakes of ice thereto, an endless belt type ice distributingconveyor means disposed above said platform and providing laterallyspaced substantially horizontal runs movable longitudinally of theplatform in opposite directions below said breaker, means fordischarging broken ice from said breaker selectively upon said runs, andbunker loading means movably connected to said platform and providinglateral outlets for ice at selected points longitudinally of said runs.

7. Apparatus for icing the bunkers of a plurality of refrigerator carsas defined in claim 6 in which the means for discharging broken ice fromsaid breaker selectively upon said runs comprises a pivoted gate member.

8. Apparatus for icing the bunkers of a plurality of refrigerator carswhich presents a longitudinal row of hatch openings comprising anelongated platform, an ice supply means mounted on said platform, beltconveyor means movably mounted on said platform, said belt conveyormeans including laterally spaced substantially parallel runs movablelongitudinally in opposite directions on opposite sides of said icesupply means, means for directing ice to said runs selectively, andbunker loading means movably connected to said platform providinglateral outlets for ice from said conveyor runs.

VAUGHAN B. WILLIAMS, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 747,546 Garrett Dec. 22, 1903925,817 Lorch June 22, 1909 1,407,391 Downer Feb. 21, 1922 1,428,234Huebsch Sept 5, 1922 1,465,609 McBeth et a1 Aug. 21, 1923 1,479,378Davis Jan. 1, 1924 1,506,907 Jackson Sept. 2, 1924 1,885,58 Brandt Nov.1, 1932 2,063,431 Grayson et al. Dec. 8, 1936 2,113,493 Phillips Apr. 5,1938 2,544,431 McLain et a1 Mar. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 475,247 Great Britain 1937

